Muscle in Progress

So I know I’m way behind on the times already, but I just heard that one of my favorite TV actresses passed away last week… it’s no secret that the Golden Girls is one of my most favorite series of all time, and I am saddened to hear that Estelle Getty, better known as “Sophia” on the show passed on last week Tuesday… what a phenomenal woman she was, and I’m sure that she will be missed by the world.

Following in Dan Nation’s footsteps, I’d like to pay tribute to Estelle in presenting this Youtube clip showcasing some of her greatest moments as Sophia…. mahalo nui loa ia ‘oe…

Estelle Getty
July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008

*special thanks to Writer Jax for the photo

What the heck?? July is coming to an end already! Oh no! Well, thankfully I live in Hawai`i where the beach is open and comfortable 365 days of the year… ok, maybe not 365 days… Hawai`i is very green because of a bit of rain now and then, so we do have our rainy season hehe. But anyway, just because the weather may be getting a little colder for the rest of the year, that’s no excuse to give up on our bodies and becoming couch potatoes This week’s batch of inspiration is varied but focuses on the slightly bulkier look, which would not only look great on any of you.. but also help keep ya warm during the winter   Something that really helps is keeping your nutrition up to par, and I know how confusing that can be.  Here’s a little tip by personal trainer Shawn Phillips on how to make your meals a little easier to plan.  Click here.

Our first guy has a nice thick muscular bod… a big chest and a nice set of arms… mmmm…and yes, he is in adult videos, but I don’t remember his name so I can’t tell you where to view more of him hehe.

Our next guy knows how to work a tank top. Now it’s no secret that tank tops only really work for guys who are nice and slim or built like this cause there’s nothing incredibly attractive about seeing layers of flab roll out of such a small shirt, but hey… if he can whip his bod into shape, so can you! I’m tired of people saying that genetics pre-determines what kind of body someone can achieve. Sure, they do play a part, but nothing is impossible… and those who think that genetics are that limiting should be fired.

What I love about our next guy is he has that “frat” build that always makes me drool heheh. He has a nice lean body that’s not too skinny but not too bulky either. I like to think it’s the kind of bod that anyone can aspire to, especially those who just want to be healthy and fit and are less concerned about achieving the “perfect model” body. You could easily see many guys like this at any sporting event or strolling along any street of any university around the world

Of course, for those of you who live along the beach areas, maybe the water is your life? So why not aspire to something a little more water-built like this guy here. Sure the water may be colder in the winter, but for those die-hard surfers out there, all that means is buying a good wet suit to protect yourself from the cold

And don’t forget, once your bod is looking downright hot… get out there and find yourself a man at one of those beaches or one of those games and bring him home for a little bit of sporting for yourself! Now if you’ll excuse me, my dream lover down here is waiting for me to climb back into bed with him hehe

Time flies by too quickly sometimes. It’s already the middle of July, which means that autumn is just around the corner… and before you know it, winter will be upon the northern half of the world. Now before we all go into hiding with the turning of the seasons, why don’t we all spend a bit more time out in the sun and take advantage of the environment to get our bodies into high fat-burning mode and build some of the greatest bodies ever seen!

What I love about our first stud of inspiration is his incredible set of abs. He’s got a highly-defined 6pack leading down to his belly button, with his lower abs just out of sight. His chest and arms are perfectly shaped with a powerful set of shoulders that slope up to his neck. Yum!!

Now one of the best ways to take in the great weather is to head out to the beach like our next guy. He’s obviously spent a lot of time in the gym perfecting his bod to be proudly displayed on the coast. His chest is massive and his midsection is one solid mass of muscle that fits just perfectly into his surfshorts. That’s what I dream of achieving

Now you may be asking yourself, what good is it to go to the beach if you don’t get in the water? My thoughts exactly! If your goal is finding new ways of getting in a good workout, don’t spend your day lying on the sand. The natural movement of the ocean currents provide a lot of resistance that will kick up your metabolism and even build a great amount of strength if you use it to your advantage. So like this guy, spend the day in the water

Now after a long day at the beach, nothing feels better than a nice long shower! Can you imagine walking out of the shower, taking a look in the mirror and seeing this kind of muscle on your body? Hot lean muscle, a defined set of abs, and firm biceps to complete the package

And one of the most important, yet overlooked elements necessary for building a healthy muscled bod is the element of getting a good night’s rest. If you really want to build a positive environment for muscle growth and fat burning, you need at LEAST 6-8 hours of sleep every night. So if it means putting your favorite late night shows on Tivo and going to sleep an hour or two earlier, then by all means… do the right thing for your body and get some rest. I hardly think this guy got his body to this perfection on 3-4 hours of sleep a night

Well that’s about it for this week gang… I need to get my ass into bed so I can create that healthy environment. Have a great powerful week!!

Holy crap, can you believe it’s July already?? Where the heck is the summer going? Before you know it, autumn and winter will be right around the corner and everybody will be bundling up and not in the mood to work out, preferring the comforts of holiday meals . Anyway, while we all have the urge to be active and take advantage of the summer weather, why don’t we fire up our imaginations and our drive to succeed?

This week’s batch of inspiration focuses on something I dream of achieving myself… a flat stomach with a nice set of abs . Now I know, abs are always the elusive nemesis of us all, but nothing is impossible right? You just have to set your mind to it and consult with abs experts. Well have no fear, the general consensus of most abs experts (i.e. trainers who actually have them) is that achieving a nice set of abs is about 80-90% based on your nutrition. For anyone serious about studying abs and how they work, I suggest you check out ABSolution by Shawn Philips.

Anyway, our first guy this week has a nice lean set of abs, nice-sized biceps and a nice lean chest. So for those of you who aspire to a nice lean swimmer’s build, maybe this is your future bod?

Our next guy’s abs aren’t incredibly defined, but definitely show off well as he leans back I could definitely see something like this on myself, what about you?

Experts say that in order to bring out the natural form our abs, we have to first get rid of the layers of belly fat that are covering them. And how do we do that? Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high quality proteins (chicken, fish, lean beef) and yes, even a touch of healthy fats. And unfortunately, it also means a lot of running or some form of cardio that will raise your metabolism and burn a shitload of calories . So, you could be like this guy and spend a ton of time on the track

Now I know some of you may be wondering, “Oh my God, does that mean I have to give up my weight training??” Of course not! Studies have also shown that resistance training also increases metabolism, which does cause fat loss so there’s no reason to stop your workouts. Although you may want to cut back on your weight training days and replace it with a day of cardio if your main focus is to burn off the fat . For guys like me, all I really want is to be able to lay back like this guy and see clear down to my waist with no obstructive tummy in the way

Whatever your own personal goals may be, whether it’s just to get a flat stomach, or whether it’s to develop nicely carved abs, the secret to good abs is having a good steady nutrition plan and a suitable cardio plan to shred those layers of belly fat out of the way.  And if fat-burning is your goal, experts also recommend a high-intensity-interval method of cardio training rather than going at a steady pace.  You need something that will spike up your metabolism.  Think of it this way… who has less belly fat and more muscle… Olympic swimmers or marathon runners?  The choice is up to you.. whatever makes you happy

Now if you’ll excuse me, my future abs await me

Wow, is June almost over already?  Where does the time go?  Hmmm… this is the only bad thing about being on vacation for a little bit.  Time flies by too quickly.  Before you know it, I’ll be back behind my desk dying for another break .  Ahh well, at least this time I got to vacation during the summer while the sun is out and the boys are shirtless on the beach hehe.  Of course that also means that gym time is increasingly difficult to get since everybody and their grandmother is trying to get in shape for the beach!

So for those of you who see the value of “visualization” exercises and imagining the best possible body for yourself, this week’s batch of inspiration covers the whole spectrum: from the sexy surfer look to the hot bodybuilder in action.  Our first guy makes me want to run out and join the local Sierra Club or the local hiking group.  His body is lean with a bit of muscle on it, a perfect match for me!  Anybody else up for a hike?

Our next guy is probably not really a fire fighter, but hell… a guy like him could rescue me anytime!  As long as he gives me mouth-to-mouth afterwards hehe.  A powerful massive chest and biceps the size of melons, I’d probably faint in his arms!  Ok maybe I wouldn’t, but hell, if I did, he’d probably spend more time taking care of me heheh

Hmmm after all that heat, I think a dip in a pool somewhere is just what the doctor ordered!  For those of you who dream of the flat tight abs, how’s this example?  A perfect six pack with a tiny bit of belly hair reaching down into unchartered regions .  And look at those upper obliques just below his chest?  HOT!

Or if  you’re like me and prefer the rush of the ocean, this kind of bod might be more what you dream to achieve.  A nice muscular chest that’s not too large, a nice lean stomach, and those lean yet muscular arms, perfect for cutting through the strong waves of the ocean.  All you’d need then is a board to hit the surf!

And after a great day in the sun, it’s always good to come back home, turn on the a/c (if I had it) and slip into a comfortable pair of briefs and just lounge around the house.  You know, only certain guys can pull off wearing square-cut briefs that hug the body like these do.  Check out that “V” line and that nice vein traveling down his biceps.  So hot…

Whatever your goals are, pick an image that fits what you want to accomplish and spend a few minutes each day imagining yourself with that body.  If it helps, print out the picture and paste a picture of your face to it and look at it every day before you head out to start your day.  The more  you concentrate on it and work on it at the gym, you’d be surprised at what you could accomplish!  The only one stopping you from achieving the ultimate “you” is after all,  you!  Go for it!